A Daventry town councillor who failed to attend any council meetings in six months has been removed from his position.

Notice of Keith Simpson’s disqualification was released on Wednesday last week and residents of Hill Ward now have until April 8 to decide if they wish to hold an election. If no candidate steps forward a volunteer will be co-opted to take on the role.

It is in a way a waste of money as we will have to hold an election again.

Ron Fox

Ron Fox, chairman of Daventry Town Council, said he thought Mr Simpson’s absence from council and committee meetings was “unacceptable”.

He said: “It is in a way a waste of money as we will have to hold an election again. We used taxpayer’s money to elect him and now we have to do it again. I think this is the first time this has happened since I have been on the council; I am not happy about it.”

Mr Simpson, of Jennings Close, told the Daventry Express his absence from council was due to difficulties following on from the collapse of his courier business in late July last year.

He said: “It was my first term as a councillor and I have gone through a difficult period in my career. I would like to offer my heartfelt regret for people who did vote for me. I am in the process of writing a letter to the council expressing my regret.”

Mr Simpson said he would like to stand for the council again in the future, adding: “I would still like to be able to put something back into the community.” Since 2008 two previous members of the council have been disqualified for non-attendance. In May 2014, the cost of electing new town councillors stood at roughly £8,000.